City asks for input on development of Athlone power station site
3 June 2016
The public participation process relating to the well-known Athlone Power Station site has commenced.
As part of the City of Cape Town’s engagement process, public meetings will be held in Pinelands, Athlone and Langa next week.
As well as fulfilling statutory requirements, such as the environmental authorisation process, the public participation process (and the planned meetings in particular) will entail sharing information about the project processes, the background of the site, and the contextual analysis. It will also provide an opportunity for members of the public to propose possible development options for the City’s consideration.
Inclusive approach to development
‘We would like to plan with the people and not for them. This is one of the first steps that we are taking in what we expect to be an in-depth and inclusive process of engagements with potential investors, property owners, neighbouring residents and the community at large.
‘This is viewed as a catalytic site that could change the face of Cape Town in future and drive much-needed investment for job creation,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning, Councillor Johan van der Merwe.
A pre-feasibility study which highlighted the site’s potential as a mixed-use development will be the starting point for the identification of development alternatives. These alternatives will be refined into a preferred development alternative through the detailed planning process and with the information from the development strategy.
Public participation
Members of the public will have opportunities to contribute to the preferred development alternative through the planned public participation and the statutory public participation processes which must accompany environmental impact assessments and land use processes, among others.
‘We want to develop a strategy for this transformative site which is based on collaboration and inclusivity,’ said Councillor Van der Merwe.
Public meetings will be held in the following areas:
- Pinelands: 7 June 2016 from 18:00 – 19:00 at Pinelands Town Hall, St Stevens Road
- Athlone: 8 June 2016 from 18:00 – 19:00 at Athlone Manor Hall, corner of Protea and Klipfontein Roads
- Langa: 9 June 2016 from 18:00 – 19:00 at Langa Hall (Johnson Ngwevela Hall), corner of Church and Washington Streets
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